Harbour lovers honor long-time shaper

The group that shows up for Harbour Surf Day keeps getting bigger, with at least 50 people showing up on the sand at Bolsa Chica to honor Rich Harbour PHOTO BY RICH HARBOUR, POSTED BY LAYLAN CONNELLY

1 of 10

A surfer takes a wave on a Harbour board at Bolsa Chica State Beach last Saturday to honor long-time surfboard shaper Rich Harbour PHOTO COURTESY OF RICH HARBOUR, POSTED BY LAYLAN CONNELLY

1 of 10

Surfers paddle out at Bolsa Chica during Harbour Surf Day, held each year to honor Rich Harbour, whose shop is in Seal Beach. PHOTO BY LAYLAN CONNELLY, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

Surfer Trevor Downs brought out his Harbour surfboard for "Harbour Surf Day." He's been at every party since it started in 2005. PHOTO BY LAYLAN CONNELLY, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

A sign announces the meeting place for Harbour surfboard lovers who gathered at Bolsa Chica State Beach last Saturday. PHOTO BY LAYLAN CONNELLY, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

The Harbour surfboards filled the sand on Saturday, as people brought out their boards to show off to fellow surfers. PHOTO BY LAYLAN CONNELLY, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

John Cronin, a 78-year old who recently started surfing and proud owner of a Harbour board, has a license plate frame that reads "Harbour Surfboards" on his self made tin camper. PHOTO BY LAYLAN CONNELLY, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

Rich Harbour, in brown, checks out the Harbour surfboards on display at Bolsa Chica State Beach last Saturday during "Harbour Surf Day." Harbour has been in business 50 years, and nearly 30,000 Harbour surfboards have been made. PHOTO BY LAYLAN CONNELLY, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

Rich Harbour has been in business 50 years, since he was 15 years old. He is one of the few shapers still found in the backroom of the shop, located in Seal Beach. PHOTO BY LAYLAN CONNELLY, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 10

Tad Banzuelo, 34, takes his Harbour surfboard out into the water during "Harbour Surf Day" held at Bolsa Chica State Beach. PHOTO BY LAYLAN CONNELLY, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The group that shows up for Harbour Surf Day keeps getting bigger, with at least 50 people showing up on the sand at Bolsa Chica to honor Rich Harbour PHOTO BY RICH HARBOUR, POSTED BY LAYLAN CONNELLY

Trevor Downs gently glides his hand over the turquoise blue Harbour longboard while showing off the small details of what makes it special.

The piece of art could easily go up on his wall, he said. The problem is - it's the only board he's ever wanted to ride.

Downs' longboard was just one of about 50 showcased on the sand at Bolsa Chica State Beach Saturday for "Harbour Surf Day," a beach party with Harbour lovers who take the day to honor their favorite surfboard shaper Rich Harbour.

Harbour is celebrating 50 years of surfboard shaping, a milestone anniversary that kicked off Nov. 1 and will run through 2009.

"You know what, I'm proud of myself," said Harbour, as the 65-year-old sat on the sand taking photos of the crowded waves dotted with Harbour boards. "I've never been bummed out on what I do. Every life has its lows and highs, but it's been mostly highs most of my life."

Harbour Surf Day started in 2005 when a group on a message board on the surf shop's Web site decided to get together. Only about 10 surfers showed up, but the event grew every year. Harbour tries to show up to each one, as well as many former employees who have worked in the shop through the years.

Many of the people who attended Saturday told stories of how Harbour took the time to figure out what they needed. When Todd Saunders came in with his father, Harbour had them give a test ride with two boards before sitting down with them to figure out what they really wanted.

"You walk into the shop, you don't feel like a customer, you fell like part of the crew," said Saunders.

Harbour, the last of a nearly extinct culture of surfboard shapers who work in a back room of the shop, said it's the love of working with his hands that keeps him going. He loves every aspect of the job, from fiber glassing to the creative puzzle-solving process of making just the right board for a surfboard rider.

"I hate changing oil on a car; I'd rather have a root canal. But get dust on me, and I can lay down in it," he said.

Harbour started making boards at a young age, after someone snagged his board, and he had to come up with a way for a new one. Knowing his parents wouldn't fork over cash for a new one, he proposed the idea of making one to his dad, who worked as head of tool and dye for Douglas Aircraft.

The first board came out "pretty pitiful," Harbour said with a chuckle. There were no instruction videos back then, and not many other shapers around to give advice to a kid.

"There were snickers …. I was the joke of the beach. That crushed me," he said.

But those laughs made him motivated to create something greater, to really take time to analyze it and figure out surfboard shaping. His second board turned out much better, and a business was born.

Of all the boards Harbour has created, his favorite is the one hanging on his wall, his 20,000 surfboard that he made for the 40th anniversary collectors series. It's all wood, made of half curly and half balsa.

For the 50th anniversary, he will make five more collectable wall-hanger legacy boards numbered 30,001 30,002… and so on. At a price of $8,000 each, two have already been ordered.

He's already gotten the wood for them, with logs that are so large it takes three people to lift them. These boards are for the connoisseurs of surfboard design who want a piece of art for their wall.

"I have to cut all this up to make surfboards out of it … oh boy," he said.

Also, the same design is available all-year long for a rideable surfboard made of traditional material for about $1,200, depending on length.

"It's not a surfboard for everyday, it's a surfboard for theday," said Robert Hownson, who took over the store in 1993 so Harbour could concentrate on building. He compared it to a special outfit you'd wear to a wedding, for that perfect 6-foot glassy and peeling day when no one is out but you and your friends.

Harbour and former employee Mike Marshall, who worked at the Seal Beach shop from 1963 to 1968, chatted on Saturday about the early days, and how he met his wife back then, who surfed on Harbour's surf team.

"These people, I can't get rid of them," he said with a smile, humbled by the turnout. "They've become lifelong family."

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.